As a manager it is imperative that you are a good communicator. Often you are letting your team know what you need from them. Maybe you’re talking to clients and must convey what you can do for them. And, everyday you hear from colleagues, employees, even your own boss - and you must respond to them.

As long as the debate has waged regarding Coke vs. Pepsi, so too have opinions over which experience is more beneficial: public or private accounting. To add my voice to the dialog, I decided to reach out to a few of the dozens of finance professionals I have placed over the last six months and get their views. Take a look at how accountants see value in experience with both public and private firms.

Whether you are negotiating with a new employee or conducting an annual review with someone already on your staff, sooner or later the conversation turns to money. According to a Salary.com survey of 13,500 random visitors, 65% of respondents said they are looking for a new job within the next three months. Of those, 57% say they are looking because they believe they are underpaid. Even more interesting is that when compared with the firm’s market data on similar positions, only 19% of the group is actually underpaid; 17% appear to be overpaid, and 34% are fairly compensated. In other words, perception and expectations about salary compensation are not always accurate.